Main menu

Monthly Archives: May 2016

It’s that time again, the Chelsea Flower Show is here. The show is running from the 24th to the 28th May. This years highlights include photographic exhibits and a floral arch to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Queen, a theme that a lot of the gardens will represent! As well as an acoustic garden inspired by world-leading percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie that will play musical notes to visitors.

For those of you who have never been to the Chelsea Flower Show, here are some facts about the event to bring you up to speed with what to expect and learn a bit about the history of the show.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, or RHS Great Spring Show as it was originally called, has been running since 1862.

The show was cancelled during the Second World War, as the land was required by the War Office for an anti-aircraft site.

The only year garden gnomes have ever been allowed was in 2013. The RHS claims “gnomes detract from the presentation of the plants or products on display, and from the general appearance of the show”

In 2000, Exhibitors were moved inside a giant pavilion. Prior to 2000 they were housed under a marquee, which was honoured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest tent

The Great Pavilion is roughly 11,775 square metres or 2.90 acres, enough room to park 500 London buses.

Allthe show gardens are built from scratch in just 19 days and are dismantled in only five days.

One of the most controversial gardens in the show’s history was Paul Cooper’s ‘Cool and Sexy’ garden in 1994, which featured a grille which blew jets of air up the skirts of unsuspecting women.

I will definitely try to head over to the show as I do every year, and I would highly recommend you do too as it really is amazing to see!

Will you be going to the Chelsea Flower show this year? What Gardens are you looking forward to seeing? Let us know.